Best and worst racing movies

The question was asked over on the RC thread: "What are your favorite racing movies? Surely Grand Prix has to be up there. Le Mans remains one of mine. But how about the worst? Some are so bad you can't look away. Fireball 500 anyone?"

To start the ball rolling, this was my response: "So bad I can't remember the name of the thing. Starred Tony Curtis and Piper Laurie> About a brash auto designer who builds a car on his own (actually a Darrin), and wins the Canada to Mexico race.

The external scenes from The Racers (Kirk Douglas, Bela Darvi, et al), make that movie interesting.

It was shot around the 1954 GP and sports car racing season. Book based on a novel and loose interpretation of Rudolf Carriciola's life and Tazio Nuvolari.

Go nuts everytime I see the scenes of the drivers throwing kisses to their ladies out of the wrong side of the car. Pits on the right, drivers kissing left.

Also not happy when Belgian flag used to start GP of Germany. Pickie, Pickie, Pickie.

Hey Ray, that brings it all back and right on pitch too. I'd forgotten about 'Man and a Woman' and you're right, it did have some good racing; sports cars as I recall? I think I've even got an LP (remember them?) with the tune on. I'll look it up. By the way, my video book rates the sequel as a 'turkey'. Haven't seen it.

lyn, I have about ten LPs (I don't have to remember them) with different versions of that tune. Just picked them up at garage sales, not necessarily for that tune, by the way. Some I got for Barry for his dancing nights.
As for Don, I hope he combed his hair and looked his best...

The current issue of either Road and Track or Car and Driver has an article with movie posters of the "worst racing movies", at least in the opinion of whoever wrote the article. FYI.

When I was 13-ish I went with the family on vacation to Florida. When I found out that "Le Mans" was playing at the drive-in, I made Dad take me. A fantastic event for my young mind. But recently I watched it on video for the first time in many, many years. It was hard to watch it through to the end, it was that bad. I got the impression that Steve McQueen had never attended a race, and knew nothing about how drivers behaved. As well as nothing about how to write a script, etc. The race footage is nothing special these days, since those of us who have access to Speedvision can see much better footage. Well. I have committed heresy. "Le Mans" will always hold a special place in my growing up, but I don't think it's a movie I can watch again, regretfully.

I haven't watched the tape yet, but I recently taped "Sidecar Racers" from Speedvision. I did see it in the seventies...yes, it was about motorcycle sidecar racing, set in Austraila, but I enjoyed it at the time. I'll watch it soon and see how it holds up to the test of time.

That must be the one that got Keir started on the Bathurst thread...
There's a good fun one, while we're with bikes, called 'Fast Charlie, Motorcycle Racer' or something like that. Set in the twenties, if I recall correctly.

None of the movies will hold up over time. It's a fact of life that (in most cases) the actors and directors get better, as do the writers.

A "juvenile," movie like "Johnny Dark," does have some good period action shots of CalClub racing. AAAaaaaaannnnnndddddd if you look closely, you might be able to see some of the racing drivers that went on to become famous.

I've read more articles on McQueen's wanting to do a "racing," picture. Therefore, the script was a piecemeal cut and paste special.

Originally posted by Dave Ware But recently I watched it on video for the first time in many, many years. It was hard to watch it through to the end, it was that bad. I got the impression that Steve McQueen had never attended a race, and knew nothing about how drivers behaved. As well as nothing about how to write a script, etc...

Dave

Dave -

I respectfully disagree with you. I think 'Le Mans' is one of the best racing films ever made. I think Steve was actually attempting to do a realistic portrayal of a professional race car driver with out any stereotypical hype. While I can certainly understand why film reviewers trashed this film when it came out, do to Steve's 'under' acting, I think it is actually resonably acurate of what racing is like. Then again my perceptions may not be acurate. Who knows ?

Most hollywood racing films go for over-the-top Thills & Spills where something really dramatic happens every 5 minutes. My vote for a 'worst film' would be more along the lines of James Caan in the 1960ies stock car film 'Red Line 7000'.

The most recent racing film has been a grand advertisement why none have been made since. So why hasn't anyone else mentioned 'Days of Blunder' errr Thunder. NASCAR's with bumber bars? since when?
Washed by CART pilot who rides Harleys and gets naked with a brain surgeon who looks about ten years to young to even be a junior brain surgeon, let alone a consultant, and too much of an Australian accent to be a consultant in the US heath system.
Then again we now know the reason why Cruise wanted Kidman in the film in the first place.

Come on Jonesy, I think I can confidently say that 'Days of Thunder' has been mentioned twice already.
You should get on the board more often so you can keep pace... or is it that you're a little slack at 2:00am?

I distinctly remember that movie about a road race in and around Las Vegas starring Elvis Presley. Hey but what about Stroker Ace with Burt Reynolds? Now there was a prime candidate for low brow racing flick. Others come to mind like that Shirley Muldowney documentary, Fastco, Canonball Run, Herbie (races in France), and that cool race between Lee Majors in a 917 CanAm and Burgess Meredith in an F-86 Sabre.

Gil said "I've read more articles on McQueen's wanting to do a "racing," picture. Therefore, the script was a piecemeal cut and paste special."

Does anyone know more about McQueen's proposed movie that I'm sure was started before Grand Prix but aborted due to his (SM's) illness? I clearly remember turning up at Brabham's Byfleet workshops one day with a load of Goodyear tyres only to find the place full of characters wearing dark glasses (indoors) and drinking Coke. And one of them was definitely S McQueen. I was told that a movie was being planned and I assume that Brabhams were involved in supplying cars. Or perhaps SM just wanted to get some practice. Grand Prix was made in 1966; I'm sure my 'meeting' would have been sometime early in '65.

Speaking of "Days of Thunder", I was reading a Rolling Stone interview with Dale Earnhardt Jr. and the subject of racing movies came up. Dale Earnhardt Jr. was first to say that Grand Prix was a great movie and that Days of Thunder---"sucked." I couldn't agree more. Some great in-car camera shots matched up with a predictable, sappy stereotypical "good guy-bad guy" plot.

I liked "Death Race 2000" in a sick way. I wouldnt consider it a race movie in a way. I was rather disappointed in "Le Mans" with Steve McQueen. I have been wanting to see "Grand Prix". This Saturday night "The Green Helmet" is on Speedvision, is this one any good? I also liked Days of Thunder, it is one of the better modern ones.

For an additional taste of McQueen, the book by Michael Keyser, "A French Kiss with Death." is an excellent look into the making of LeMans and the life of the the talented actor. For those of you that remain unsure, LeMans was made exactly how McQueen wanted.
It remains as one of the most accurate racing movies ever made.

I was watching Grand Prix on speedvision a couple of months ago and Frankenheimer (I think it was) said that McQueen was supposed to have the lead, but when he came in to talk to them he acted like such an ass and wanted so many changes and so much control that they told him to take a walk. Thats how we ended up with James Garner.

I'll be damned if I can remember where I read it, but I
know I read something about John Frankenheimer planning
another racing movie in the '80s. This time, it was about
Group C Sportscar racing and probably Le Mans, but I'm not
sure about that. The lead car was to be a Porsche 956
Unfortunately, the movie never made it into production.

Two reasons I think it was good Garner got the part. 1. It turned him into a bit of an enthusiast and taught him to drive race cars; and, 2. He did a great job... McQueen's image would have got in his way in that part. Playing a role more like Sarti might have suited him.

Smash Palace (Al Shaw, a New Zealand born racer and his Italian wife have long since returned from his racing career in Europe and now lives for the new race car he's building and local NZ open wheeler racing leaving his wife to have an affair leaving Shaw to kidnap thier daughter and head for the hills. Not seen it but supposedly very good and features some 80's NZ Formula Pacific footage)http://us.imdb.com/Details?0083096

and thrown in cause the have some awesome car sequences

Ronin (Audi S8, Peugeot 406 Coupe and an awesome Mercedes 6 litre monster, plus of course what everyone's always wanted to do to a Opel Vectra in police colours - wonder if John Cleland drove that? stunts by among others Jean-Pierre Jarier)http://us.imdb.com/Details?0122690

It's in French... 'Un Homme et Une Femme," have I got the 'e' in the right spot?
Anouk Amie and Jean-Louis Trintignant.
The sequel is 'Un Homme et Un Femme 20 Anni' or something.
Video 2000, I think it is, at Coorparoo (the one on the hill on the main road as you head east) have a copy of each.

Cheers Ray, have editted the above post accordingly to include. At least now I know where the racing influence in "A Man and A Woman" comes from. Both it and the sequel were made by Claude LeLouch, who also made the infamous 'Rendezvous' short film! Well at least it puts into perspective some of the stories I'd heard about the making of Rendesvous. While the original story I'd heard is now obviously false, I like it better!

There's also 'Checkpoint' with Stanley Baker - 1957. A lot of shennanigans about stolen auto blueprints and skullduggery - some nice sportscar footage of a 'Mille Miglia' type of race though. Don't know what makes of cars were used though.

Dave Gilmore and Nick Mason made a documentary about a Carrera Panamerica revival race about ten years ago. Had some archival stuff and background about the race. Can't recall the title. I'll look it up later.

The pair, who one could say are comfortably off, but stinking rich more like, raced the event in a pair of Jaguar C Types. Mason and his navigator crashed though putting both in hospital and destroying the car. And also putting a Pink Floyd tour back a month or tour while Mason recoverred. Mason and Gilmore are two thirds of the core members of Pink Floyd, both survivors of the Roger Waters era of the band. Gilmore the vocalist and lead guitarist, Mason the lead percussionist/drummer (the Floyd has more than one).

The docco was unsurprisingly full of their music, most from the haunting sounds from the 'Momentary Laps of Reason' album and 'Delicate Sound of Thunder' world tour.

I watched 'Smash Palace' a few weeks ago, after finding and taping it off one of our huge selection (4!) of free to air TV channels. It was bloody good - enjoyed it immensely. I think it was one of the first films that Roger Donaldson directed - he is in Hollywood now.

There is a bit of real 'in car' racing footage in it, but not that much. The car Al Shaw drives in the movie was the Ralt RT1 that was raced by Steve Millen in the 1980 NZ International series - the year prior to the film being released. This is also how they got the real life racing coverage shown on the movie (at Baypark and Pukekohe). There is a sequece in the movie where Al Shaw collides with another car and barrel rolls several times before coming to rest the right side up, with the driver alive but shaken.

This was NOT a rehearsed or staged accident. It did happen at Pukekohe at the start of the final race of the 1980 series. Millen was on pole with the Dutch driver Huub Rothengatter beside him on the front row (isn't he Verstappens manager now?). The two went into the first corner at Puke side by side and tangled. Millens car barrel rolled several times, his arms violently being tossed around like rag dolls, while Rottengatters car (a Chevron B48D) just spun on the grassy outfield. Needless to say a restart was ordered, sans Millen who was carted off to hospital with various broken limbs.

For the 1981 season Millen returned ,with sponsorship by 'Smash Palace' for the series, as a way of promoting the films debut on the movie big screen.

Funnily enough the main reason I taped it was because of the movies sound track, which featured the song 'Smash Palace' by Sharon O'Neill. Any of you Australians remember her - how could you forget as she was drop dead gorgeous and could sing as well. Needless to say I enjoyed the rest of the movie as well. Even my wife, who is an anti petrol head, enjoyed it as well. Now thats saying something!!

Originally posted by Maldwyn Anyone got the soundtrack for "Grand Prix"? Great sounds.

I have the original LP record of both the 'Grand Prix' and 'A man and a woman' soundtracks, and both are among the most treasured items in my collection of music. So nice to (very) occasionally find the time for a quiet night in with my wife, and a glass of wine, and get taken back to our courting days - and the back row of the cinema (for our younger viewers, read Multiplex)The strange thing about films about racing is that even the crap ones do sometimes have some great action or location shots in them, if you are patient enough to search for them. I loved 'Bobby Deerfield' for that reason - dire plot, but some great genuine action from many of the GPs from that year (late 70s?) I remember the film crew at the Silverstone GP, and the accommodating Brabham-Alfa team who Al Pacino drove for (under the guise of Carlos Pace) Also personally memorable as he drove an Alfetta GT on the road, and I'd just bought an identical car myself - my very first Alfa Storyline was totally unbelievable for several reasons, but mostly as he left his wife(GF?) Anny Duperey for the terminally less-gorgeous Marthe Keller (Nothing personal, Marthe is a brilliant actress)

The worst racing film I've seen, nay, the worst film I've ever seen is probably 'Driven' starring Slyvester Stallone. Horrible horrible film and as much fun as choking. Burt Reynolds in a Frank Williams guise is absolutely hilarious as well. The cinematic equivalent of scurvy!

I watched 'Smash Palace' a few weeks ago, after finding and taping it off one of our huge selection (4!) of free to air TV channels. It was bloody good - enjoyed it immensely. I think it was one of the first films that Roger Donaldson directed - he is in Hollywood now.

There is a bit of real 'in car' racing footage in it, but not that much. The car Al Shaw drives in the movie was the Ralt RT1 that was raced by Steve Millen in the 1980 NZ International series - the year prior to the film being released. This is also how they got the real life racing coverage shown on the movie (at Baypark and Pukekohe). There is a sequece in the movie where Al Shaw collides with another car and barrel rolls several times before coming to rest the right side up, with the driver alive but shaken.

This was NOT a rehearsed or staged accident. It did happen at Pukekohe at the start of the final race of the 1980 series. Millen was on pole with the Dutch driver Huub Rothengatter beside him on the front row (isn't he Verstappens manager now?). The two went into the first corner at Puke side by side and tangled. Millens car barrel rolled several times, his arms violently being tossed around like rag dolls, while Rottengatters car (a Chevron B48D) just spun on the grassy outfield. Needless to say a restart was ordered, sans Millen who was carted off to hospital with various broken limbs.

For the 1981 season Millen returned ,with sponsorship by 'Smash Palace' for the series, as a way of promoting the films debut on the movie big screen.

Funnily enough the main reason I taped it was because of the movies sound track, which featured the song 'Smash Palace' by Sharon O'Neill. Any of you Australians remember her - how could you forget as she was drop dead gorgeous and could sing as well. Needless to say I enjoyed the rest of the movie as well. Even my wife, who is an anti petrol head, enjoyed it as well. Now thats saying something!!

Absolutely have to second this movie is "bloody good", an unknown NZ gem that all race fans should get their hands on.

KzKiwi didn't mention the reasonable car chase as well with a full blown Sports Sedan having to visably back off a lot while chasing a hot Monaro (if i rememebr correctly) through some NZ mountains.

Sharon O'Niell can sing? Funny, the more hot they are to look at the less you notice the voice ;)

Originally posted by dank The worst racing film I've seen, nay, the worst film I've ever seen is probably 'Driven' starring Slyvester Stallone. Horrible horrible film and as much fun as choking. Burt Reynolds in a Frank Williams guise is absolutely hilarious as well. The cinematic equivalent of scurvy!

Whats the go? A racing car movie made by Hollywood and staring some blockbuster name and people are suprised that it's drivel?

Since others have strayed across the line to car chase movies rather than stricktly race car movies I haven't seen "The Burglars" starring Omar Shariff mentioned, well worth a look for its realism...

I knew it would be Drivel before it was made! I was working for Bernie at the time Stalone was talking about doing a Grand Prix film. Adam Faith was (pardon the pun) short listed to play Bernie. Stalone made a right nuisance of himself at several Grand Prix, and chickened out of a go in the McLaren two seater, and that's when BCE decided to put some distance between Sly's project and F1, forcing the shift to an American series, that and the script calling for a helmetless car chase through a city, eeeeeeeeeeeek!

Two questions: haven't seen "Winning" with Paul Newman mentioned here. Wasn't it the film that got him into racing? I have a blured but sympathetic rememberance of the film.
Also, wasn't there a film about the life of Wendell Scott, stock-car racer?

Greased Lightning was the Wendell Scott film, with Richard Pryor in the Scott role. A fictionalized account based on a fictionalized book. I saw it once, maybe 20 years ago, from what I later learned about Scott I don't remember it being too close to the truth but that's an old memory. I think Neil Castles was a stunt driver on the film. Ironic given that I understand the two did not get on when rivals.

Originally posted by ensign14 Greased Lightning was the Wendell Scott film, with Richard Pryor in the Scott role. A fictionalized account based on a fictionalized book. I saw it once, maybe 20 years ago, from what I later learned about Scott I don't remember it being too close to the truth but that's an old memory. I think Neil Castles was a stunt driver on the film. Ironic given that I understand the two did not get on when rivals.

"Greased Lightning", despite some great "artistic license", was an entertaining film. The story behind it isn't so entertaining. Wendell Scott put together his life story and wound up with no control over what became of it and little or no financial compensation. Welcome to the entertainment business.

Among "artistic license", there was the "happy ending" of him winning a race after coming back from devastating injuries suffered in the crash at Talladega. The real story of his actual race win would have been much more dramatic, but it would have been mid-movie. Sadly, there was no uplifting finale to Wendell Scott's on track career (then he gets taken advantage of with his story and the movie).

And, yes, a real irony about Castles as he has since been portrayed as the most openly bigoted driver. Jack McCoy wrote of being around Castles at Texas in 1969 on Castles' attitude and abundant use of a particular racial slur - with George Wiltshire on hand attempting to qualify.

I saw no mention of BOBBY DEERFIELD with Al Pacino from the mid 70s
i saw it at the theater, was not impressed, it was certainly no LE MANS. However i now read that it is an adaptation of Jean Maria Remarque's book HEAVEN HAS NO FAVORITES, which is an excellent book set with a racing background, so i want to see it again.

As for Le Mans, my personal favorite by a hair over Grand Prix. I am surprised to read the quote that LE MANS came out just as McQueen intended. I've read that the money men came in late and took control of the movie, steering it in another direction - hence the involvement with Mrs. Baghetti.